National Parents Association to defend CBC in court

The National Parents Association (NPA) chairman Nicholas Maiyo has said they are ready to defend the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) in court. 

Speaking on Monday at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development during an engagement with Education stakeholders on the CBC, Maiyo emphasized that they support the system. 

The NPA chairman said, “Our concern is the judicial decision that could disrupt our children’s education...We will join the case as parents representing 10 million children in public primary schools.” 

Law Society of Kenya President Nelson Havi last Friday filed a petition seeking to halt the CBC system , arguing that the action by the Education Ministry to implement the new curriculum is unlawful and prejudicial to the future of Kenyan children. 

According to the petitioner, the 8-4-4 system should be reverted by the the Education ministry as the CBC violates and infringes the rights of children to education and free and compulsory basic education by the government.

Therefore, while awaiting hearing and determination of the case, the petitioner is seeking interim orders stopping the CBC. 

The new curriculum is currently under progressive implementation and the pioneer class is in Grade 5.

Maiyo posed, “Those are not genuine parents... we are the genuine parents and we are in full support of the curriculum. Where will the seven million children in preprimary school go if the curriculum is suspended?” 

January 2019 marked the beginning of the national rollout of the CBC at Pre-Primary I and II and Grades 1, 2 and 3 in lower primary.